QUESTION 2: PAST PAPER 2019

Source A

Source B

Question 2: 15 Mark Question - 20 - 25 minutes - 450 - 600 words

Sources A and B cover the same news event from two different tabloid newspapers. 

How far have media conventions been used to construct viewpoints in Sources A and B? 

In your answer you must: 

• outline the conventions of the front pages of tabloid newspapers, including use and style of headlines and images 
• analyse the contrasting use of symbolic, technical and written conventions in the sources 
•  make judgements and reach conclusions on the way in which media conventions construct viewpoints and ideologies.

While tabloids may differ in their target audience (The Mirror has a left-wing working class target audience, while The Daily Mail targets a right wing 'mid market' audience) both employ emotive and sensationalist language to engage and appeal to their audience's viewpoints and ideologies. The Daily Mail describes “Theresa’s rallying cry as she warns Corbyn will tax your work, your garden, your home and your inheritance.” We can tell this is intended to be important, because it is underlined and centred on the page. The term “rallying cry” constructs the viewpoint that she is strong willed as it has connotations of warfare or a call to arms. She also uses repetition of “your” when listing the things that Corbyn will “tax.” This direct mode of address is another convention of tabloid newspapers and it makes the target audience feel angry, confused and personally threatened. This also constructs the right wing capitalist ideology of the target audience. The Daily Mirror clearly states: “Don’t condemn Britain to five more years of Tory broken promises.” This sub headline is prominent on the bottom of the cover, the verb “condemn” has connotations of destruction or death, which constructs the viewpoint that Tory leadership will be disastrous. The direct mode of address (which was also used in the Daily Mail) implicates the audience as having a duty to save the country. The constructs a collectivist ideological position implying the responsibility of everyone to save their nation. 

Conventions

Examples

Analysis

Viewpoints and Ideologies

TASK: Write a response to this question. Your response should be limited to 600 words. Once completed, print a copy and then email it. Be sure to put your name on both copies.

MORE CONVENTIONS

Another convention of tabloid newspapers is the use of large, banner headlines, that dominate the page and contain sensationalist language intended to grab the attention of their target audience.

A convention of tabloid newspapers is the use of lurid or emotive images to grab the attention of their target audience.

Tabloid newspapers tend to target a downmarket target audience whose C2 and D social class suggests a lower level of academic attainment, which is reflected in less complex language choices. 

Tabloid newspapers differ from compacts in their willingness to display a clear political bias. 

While tabloids may differ in their target audience (The Mirror has a left-wing working class target audience, while The Daily Mail targets a right wing 'mid market' audience) both employ emotive and sensationalist language to engage and appeal to their audience's viewpoints and ideologies.